Makana Eracia Tshikombeni, a social worker from Maramanzhi outside Thohoyandou, loves to spend her free time writing poems. Her newly released anthology of poems, called Zwavhutshilo, is the culmination of her own life journey. The collection is a reflection of not just the hardships and pain one might experience in life, but also the happiness and love one encounters.
Tshikombeni is a BA honours student at UNISA. She says, "When I started writing this book in 2016, I didn't plan on when I would finish it and get it published, but this year I decided that it would make the perfect gift to myself for my 30th birthday."
"My poems address all kinds of issues; the kind that either make you feel happy or very uncomfortable. It talks about societal expectations and norms in culture that are often used to cover up certain types of abuse, like children being forced to grow up and get married before they are really mature enough."
She says that writing has become an integral part of her life and that she wants to use this passion she has for it to contribute towards the development of the Tshivenda language and to communicate social issues to others. "I believe there are people out there who need to hear what I have to say. We all have different purposes in life; therefore, this book is an ideal read for everyone," Tshikombeni adds.